-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A superb goal from Mesut Ozil on the hour mark saw Germany go through to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Ghana at Soccer City on Wednesday night .

The victory also secures Germany 's passage as Group D winners and they will now play England on Sunday in Bloemfontien for a place in the quarterfinals .

Australia beat Serbia 2-1 in Nelspruit but the effort was in vain as Ghana go through as the second qualifier on goal difference .

They are the first African team into the the knockout stages and will face Group C winners the United States on Saturday in Rustenberg .

U.S. and England qualify in Group C

Ozil 's superb volleyed strike into the roof of the net gave Joachim Loew 's men a deserved victory after having the better of the play , but Ghana also chances in Johannesburg .

In the first half , Andre Ayew looked set to score as he burst into the Germany penalty area , but he took one touch too many , then Ozil was one-on-one with Richard Kingson , but was denied .

Germany captain Philipp Lahm knocked an Asamoah Gyan shot off the line as the teams went in scoreless at halftime , but his team were to eventually triumph .

Coach Loew said he had a word with Ozil in the dressing room about his earlier miss and never doubted he would make amends .

`` I told him in the half-time break -- you 've still got a goal in you , '' he told AFP .

`` This was an incredibly intense game and not many things worked out for us . But ultimately we have now reached the next stage .

`` The round of 16 game -LRB- against England -RRB- will be a class encounter , we are looking forward to it . ''

Australia 2-1 Serbia

Serbia only needed a point in the other match to go through , but were undone by a fighting performance by the Socceroos at the Mbombela Stadium .

Two goals in four minutes midway through the second half from Everton midfelder Tim Cahill and substitute Brett Holman gave Australia hope they they could also qualify .

But Serbian substitute Marko Pantelic pulled one back with six minutes left , had another ruled off for offside -- the second of the match for his unfortunatle team -- then shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy .

Serbia also had strong penalty claims denied as Cahill appeared to handle in his own penalty area .

`` This was a game of good quality . I can not reproach any of my players for their effort , '' Serbian coach Radomir Antic told AFP .

`` We had plenty of opportunities but in the end I think that we did n't get fair treatment . We deserved much more than we got . We have to go back home now . ''

Milos Krasic missed two great scoring chances in the first half and also had an effort ruled out of offside as Serbia dominated , but Australia improved after the break with Cahill outjumping Nemanja Vidic for their opener .

When Holman converted with a long-range strike an unlikely passage to the last 16 looked on the cards , but at the final whistle both teams were disappointed .

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Germany beat Ghana 1-0 at Soccer City to top Group D at World Cup

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Ghana also qualify in second place in group despite narrow defeat

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A superb goal from Mesut Ozil secures the victory for Germany

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Australia beat Serbia 2-1 in other group match but both fail to qualify